Commission Decision of 20/06/2006 declaring a concentration to be compatible with the common market (Case No IV/M.4227 - UMICORE / SOLVAY / SOLVICORE / JV) according to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 (Only the English text is authentic) Brussels, 20.06.2006 SG-Greffe(2006) D/203176/203177 To the notifying parties Dear Madam(s) and/or Sir(s), Subject: Case No. COMP/M.4227 – Umicore/ Solvay/ Solvicore/ JV Notification of 11/05/2006 pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 [1] Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No. C138 of 13.06.2006, page 2. 1. On 11/05/2006, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 by which Solvay SA (“Solvay”, Belgium) and Umicore SA (“Umicore” Belgium) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of Solvicore (Germany) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are : - Solvay : chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals - Umicore : materials technology - Solvicore : membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cell applications 2. After examination of the notification, the Commission has concluded that the notified operation falls within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 and of paragraph 5 a of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 [2]. 3. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the Commission has decided not to oppose the notified operation and to declare it compatible with the common market and with the EEA Agreement.
This decision is adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004. For the Commission (signed) Philip Lowe Director General [1] OJ L 24, 29.1.2004 p. 1 [2] OJ C 56, 05.3.2005 p.32 --------------------------------------------------